Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is April 14.

Tenor saxophonist Gene Ammons was born in Chicago this day in 1925, son of boogie-woogie piano pioneer Albert Ammons. After working as a featured soloist with Woody Herman, Ammons co-led a classic two-tenor septet with Sonny Stitt in the early 1950s. His Chicago tenor sound paved the way for the next generation of saxophonists from the Windy City, including Johnny Griffin and Clifford Jordan. He died in 1974.

Trumpeter and arranger Shorty Rogers was born this day in 1924 in Great Barrington, Mass. After stints with Woody Herman and Stan Kenton, Rogers found his niche when he settled in Los Angeles in the 1950s as a figurehead in West Coast jazz both as a player and a writer. He died in 1993.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

On the New York jazz scene... the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra is at the Village Vanguard. Drummer Mike Clark's band is in the Monday night spotlight at the Blue Note. Steven Bernstein's Millennial Territory Orchestra is at The Jazz Standard on Mondays. Les Paul's trio is at Iridium. Toshiko Akiyoshi's Jazz Orchestra is at Birdland. The Ron Affif trio is at the Zinc Bar. The Mike DiRubbo quartet is at The Triad tonight.

In Boston tonight... the Berklee College of Music Rainbow Band, directed by trombonist and Berklee Professor Phil Wilson, presents its spring concert tonight at the Berklee Performance Center with a special appearance by singer Kevin Mahogany.

In Philadelphia ... the Tony Williams quartet with Wesley Morton is at the Sedgwick Cultural Center tonight. The Chris Farr trio is at Chris's Jazz Cafe tonight.

In greater Chicago... Rob Parton's Roosevelt University Big Band is at the Jazz Showcase tonight with guest conductor Maria Schneider. The William Garcia quartet is at Cafe Bolera. The Patricia Barber quintet is at the Green Mill tonight. Yoko Noge's Jazz Me Blues are at HotHouse. There's an avant-garde jam session with David Boykin, Karl E. H. Seigfried and Mike Reed on Mondays at the Hotti Biscotti Cafe.

Kelly Brand is at Joe's BeBop Cafe and Jazz Emporium tonight. The Long Count quartet is at Joy Blue. The Marc Pompe trio is at 100 South Chop House in Elmhurst tonight and Tuesday. The Mike Kocur trio is at Pete Miller's Steakhouse in Evanston tonight. Sami Scott is at Philander's in Oak Park. Typhanie Monique and Dale Prasco are at Pops for Champagne.

There's a North Central College jazz faculty concert tonight with singer Janice Borla, trumpeter Doug Scharf, tenor saxophonist Mark Colby, guitarist John McLean, pianist Frank Caruso, bassist Dave Mar and drummer Jack Mouse at Pfeiffer Hall in Elmhurst.

In New Orleans... Earl Brown is at Cafe Sbisa. Bob French and Friends are at Donna's. Reginald Koeller leads tonight's band at Preservation Hall. The Dixie Trio is at the Seaport Cafe. Charmaine Neville is at Snug Harbor. The New Orleans Jazz Vipers are at the Spotted Cat. The Rob Wagner trio is at d.b.a.

On the California jazz scene... the Steve Huffsteter big band is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles tonight. The Chris Williams quintet is at Charlie O's in Valley Glen tonight. Big Band 2000 with Luretta McCray is at Steamers Jazz Cafe in Fullerton tonight.

The Louie Cruz Beltran Latin jazz band is at Spazio in Sherman Oaks. The Contemporary Jazz Orchestra directed by Alex Budman and featuring vocalist Duane Lawrence is at Jazz at Pearl's in San Francisco. The Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet directed is at Yoshi's in Oakland tonight. The Christian McBride band is at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz tonight.